Lesson 1: West Africa & the Origins of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (KS3 History)
The Resource Nest

This introductory lesson explores West African societies before European contact and sets the foundations for understanding the development of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Students examine the wealth and complexity of West African kingdoms, investigate the economic motives behind the Triangular Trade, map its three key routes, and identify the goods exchanged between continents. Includes an accompanying worksheet.

Learning Objectives

• Describe West African kingdoms before European contact
• Explain the economic reasons for the Triangular Trade
• Map the three points of the trade route
• Identify the goods exchanged between Africa, Europe and the Americas

Success Criteria
Students can:

• Give accurate descriptions of major West African kingdoms
• Explain why European nations engaged in the Triangular Trade
• Label the three key routes of the trade on a map
• Identify and categorise the goods exchanged between continents

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.